PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK


Photo Travelogue :
Read first part - Here!

After a fairly productive, enriching and truely overwhelming time at Trimakeshwar Kumbh Mela, on returning, I decided to head for another tourist attraction in Nashik - the Pandavleni Caves. Not sure whats the connection with 'pandavs' as such, but this was a Buddhist site. It was half hour from Nashik city; not far from the city infact, as the bus mostly toured around the city picking up passengers - so can say, it lies on the outskirts of the city, in the suburbs. The bus from Trimbak dropped me off near the Rly station, from where, I had to go to the Central bus stand ( new ) to catch my bus to the caves. The places were not far from each other, so I reached quick enough.

PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
catching a bus, and then, off to the Pandavleni Caves...

PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
spotting the hill where the caves are located, from a distance...

PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
looks tiny from across the road...

PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
gets bigger as one approaches it...

PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIKPANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
the B.R.Ambedkar Memorial and Artillery Museum at base ~ skipped both...

PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIKPANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
the rates sign-board...and my ticket ~ its cheap!

PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
entering...wow...trees everywhere, hiding the sun...

PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIKPANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIKPANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIKPANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
climb, climb, climb the stairs ( ooh...there were many, almost 150+ )
climb, climb, climb till you reach the top...phew! some good cardio eh...?

the caves...
PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIKPANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIKPANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
tried touching 'em...



the hill is in round shape ...and there are more caves along the way...

PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIKPANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIKPANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIKPANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
interesting and elaborate carvings in the various viharas and chaitya...

PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
view from top...Nashik City and the Ambedkar memorial below...

PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
another view from top..another hill stood just opposite...

PANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIKPANDAVLENI CAVES, NASHIK
coming down...the lush greens is what makes one forget the tiring steps...

There's no water or food-stall at the top ( you have to carry your own ), but thankfully, there's a paid washroom at the base with running water. After spending close to an hour exploring the caves, I took a bus and headed to the station to catch my train back home. Oh...what a day it was.....

The Nasik Caves or sometimes Pandavleni Caves, are a group of 24 caves carved between the 1st century BCE and the 3nd century CE by Jain Kings, though additional sculptures were added up to about the 6th century, reflecting changes in Buddhist devotional practices mainly. ( wiki )

Address : Pandav Lene Rd, Buddha Vihar, Pathardi Phata, Nashik, Maharashtra 422010
Read next part - Here! Stay tuned for all my road, rail, flight, cruise & walk trips.
( Images - ©Mine. All rights reserved. )
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